RE: Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 And Boxster Spyder Unveiled
So has anyone actually got a deposit in yet? As far as I know, you can only actually leave a deposit now - because the order books are now open. Letters of Interest could have been sent years ago however. Walking into my local OPC last week, I was told there would be a very small allocation for October this year, and the rest will be built next year. I don't see the uproar in that Porsche dealers give first dibs to their best customers. As I understand it, they are getting better at recognising flippers and 'punish' people who do flip. I imagine dealers will be inundated, because let's face it, at 拢75k they are a bit of a bargain. Therefore, expect hundreds of whingers to come shortly after! Used, existing 981 GT4s look a little pricey now. For me, the most interesting thing is that the Spyder seems to be identical from a hardware perspective this time round.
Six cylinders. Porsche鈥檚 GT boss, Andreas Preuninger, need not say more. We鈥檙e near Weissach, Porsche鈥檚 technical base, and getting a sneak peek at the new 718 Cayman GT4 and 718 Boxster Spyder. Yes, these are the official cars. Cease all internet-fuelled rumours and speculations. Powering these sports cars is not a variant of the 911 GT3鈥檚 high-revving 4.0-litre flat-six, the engine many expected Porsche to squeeze into its mid-engine models, but a new six-cylinder engine. Loosely based on the 9A2 flat-six from the 911 Carrera range, and built on the same production line, the engine that powers the high-performance 718 twins features kit such as cylinder deactivation and piezo fuel injectors. Redline is a sky-high 8,000 rpm, while the engine鈥檚 approximately 414 bhp peak at a heady 7,600 rpm and its 310 pound-feet of torque is available between 5,000-6,800 rpm. Those figures allow both the GT4 and Spyder to reach 62 mph in 4.4 seconds and hit top speeds of 188 mph and 187 mph, respectively. Both models retain manual transmissions, although the gearboxes are saddled with lengthy gear ratios that allow the duo to pass various emissions regulations.
Meanwhile, weight rises to more than 1,400 kg (3,100 lb); an almost 90-kg (200 lb) gain over the previous models. Most of the extra fat is attributable to pesky things such as a pair of exhaust particulate filters, as well as the implementation of an automatic stop/start system, which requires the addition of a bigger starter and battery. Still, Preuninger reveals that the actual weight difference between these new cars and their predecessors is only about 30 kg (66 lbs) and that the aforementioned, three-figure difference is merely the result of changes to homologation standards and reporting. Whatever the number truly is, we believe Preuninger when he tells us drivers won鈥檛 notice the cars鈥?additional mass from behind the wheel. Preuninger says the GT4, in particular, is at least 10 seconds a lap quicker around the Nurburgring relative to its forebear. Helping the model achieve this feat are major aerodynamic advancements, including a large underbody diffuser that makes 50 percent more downforce than the last GT4鈥檚. Wheels and tyres carryover and the car's lightweight 20-inch alloys wear the latest Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres measuring 245/35 up front and 295/30 at the rear.
Additional performance enhancements include the Porsche's latest torque vectoring setup, a mechanical limited-slip differential, new dampers, and more. The suspension includes active dampers and the ride heights for the GT4 and Spyder are some 30 millimetres lower than any other 718 model. The GT4 also comes with the option of a Clubsport package. This includes a rear steel roll cage, a hand-held fire extinguisher and a six-point seatbelt on the driver鈥檚 side. The cars also pinch elements from the GT3 parts bin. Specifically, the top mounts鈥?solid, ball-mounted joints. Porsche鈥檚 GT department stuck with conventional suspension bushings elsewhere in order to maintain a good (i.e. smooth) on-road driving experience. Nevertheless, these are track-oriented vehicles first, and track rats will welcome the cars鈥?adjustable toe, camber, and roll bar rates. Most buyers will probably avoid breaking out the tool kit, though, and will instead simply press the Sport button to stiffen up the adaptive dampers. Additional dynamic tech includes an automatic rev-matching feature and access to the Porsche Track Precision App, which lets drivers geek out on lap times and the like. Options include lighter and more fade resistant carbon-ceramic brakes, lighter bucket seats, and plenty of individual trim options. Available to order from today, the Spyder wears a price tag of 拢73,405.00 RRP, while the GT4 stickers for 拢75,348.00 RRP. No, they aren't cheap. But given their six-cylinder engines and notable performance capabilities, the latest Cayman GT4 and Boxster Spyder strike us as relative bargains.
One automobile has consistently produced high quality, high performance cars for a long period of time is Porsche. Founded back in 1931, the Porsche name has long been associated with superb automobile manufacturing. This long history of producing these sought after sports cars is what has allowed it to earn the name of "most prestigious automobile brand" by the Luxury Institute. Dr. Ferdinand Porsche an engineer and was the original founder of the company. Early in the life of the company he did not set out to actually build cars, but rather do contract design work for other established automobile companies. You're likely familiar with the Volkswagen Beetle, which was Dr. Porches' first assignment which proved to be wildly successful. Over the years Porsche created a few successful models, including the Porsche 356, but none were as successful as the Porsche 911. This exciting sports car was first introduced in 1964 and still exists today.